Photoflash lamp socket with test lamp



M. SCHWARTZ Feb. i, 1956 PHOTOFLASH LAMP SOCKET WITH TEST LAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 194'? \NVENTOR MO R R l S SCHWARTZ V VMQJQZ. M ATTORNEY eh 7, W50 M. SCHWARTZ 2,496,686

PHOTOFLASH LAMP SOCKET WITH TEST LAMP Filed Oct. 28, 1.947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

Q INVENTOR MORRIS SCHWARTZ ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Morris Schwartz, Stamford. TheKalart Company Inc.,

Conn, assignor to; Stamford, Conn.

Appli'cati'on October-28, 1947, Serial No. 782,583 10 Claims... (01. 67-31) This invention. relates to a socket for lamps..- or bulbs. as. are used in photographic fiashwork, particularly to socketsyoi the. type equipped with. anejector for the. ejection. of a fired bulb.

.Sockets, oi. the generalitype above referred to, serve to connect an. inserted flash lamp: to a; circuit including a. source of current such as abattery, a generator or charged capacitors which circuit will be closed. when a release button actuating the camera. shutterand the syn.- chronizer, if any, is. operated, thereby causing. the photoflashlamp to be fired; In certain. instances, it can. and does happen that the circuit connection between. socket and source of current. is; accidentally closed; for instance-incasei'of faulty wiring or a. defective release button or socket. As a result, the flash lamp when inserted: inthesocket lamp willbe instantly fired. Such unintentionalfiringrot the lamp-may cause: injury to, the operator: aside fronrthe. waste of. a, lamp and the. possible. loss-of apicture. i

It is. already known. toprovide a test or pilot; lamp for. testing thelamp circuit; Such test lamp, usually alamp oi the typeused. in convert-- tional flash lights, is inserted, in! an the socket shell whenever. flash lamp circuit. and thecondition. oithe source of current. It. mustbe.v removed beforeinsertion of a flash lamp. Hence, the: use oi.v such test.- lamp does not iully. protect. the operator: against. accidental firing of.'the flashlamp asthedefectin. the circuit may developatter the, last. test. Furthermore, the insertion. and removal. cia test lamp require additional manipulations: by the operator that are sometimes inconvenient.

One object opening; 0

of the. invention is-to proyrdemeans permitting the operator to detect. easily a: iaultz in the circuit system of; thev flash. lamp. and the; synchronizer.

Another object of the inventionisthe provision of means fully; protecting, the operator against accidental firing of. a flash. lamp .upon. insertion into the socket.

Anotherobject of; the. invention. is to provide. test means permitting; the operator. to test the conditions of'the circuit system and the; source, of; current without requiring the insertion, or: re'.-. moval of any part suclras a test; lamp;

Another object'oftheinvention.isthe provision.

permanent readiness of test meanswhich are in for testingthe conditions ofthe lamp circuit-Land. the sourceof current and which are actuated by operating the camera release button.

Generallyspeaking, theinvention resides in permanently:- mounting: 3 test: or pilot lamp in;

2. the flash lamp socket. so that-thetest lamp terminalsare connected to the terminals oi the: socket if and when no. flash lamp is inserted in: the socket, the-test lamplbeing'positioned in such.

-. manner that a flash lamp canbe inserted while:

Y leaving the test lamp in the: socket. The-contact.

i it is desired; to testthez l nected when the flash elements inthe socket are so constructed that. a flash lamp, upon insertion, will disconnectthe: test lamp which will be automatically" recon.- lamp is removed. As a result, the condition ofithecircuit system and. the source of currentcan be-tested. at any time before insertion of a flash lampby; simply actuatingthe camera release button which. will cause: the test lamp to burn. The test'lamp will alsobelighted when there is a short circuit in the circuit.

, It should be noted in. this connection that itis. also. possible and quite practicalin certain instancestomount thetest lamp separately from the flash lamp socket and to; asscciateswitch. contacts. with theshell. which normally connect the test lamp to the source of current and automati cally disconnect the; test; lamp uponinsertion of. a flash lamp in the flash lampsocket.

Other and. further objects, features and ad.- vantages of the inven ion-x will be pointed out hereinafterv and setforth in the appended claims forming part of the application.

, In. the accompanying. drawings several now preferred embodiments of. the invention are shown by way of illustration and not by way of; limitation.

. lnthe drawings;

Fig... 1 is an elevational front view of a flash lam unit equipped with a test lamp arrangement according: to the. inventionaccording to Fig. 2 is asectionalongline 2-2. ofliig. 1-. v Fig. 3' isa sectional view similar to Fig-..2.showing the flash lamp unit' with an. inserted flash.

. lamp.

Figs. 4 andv 5 show parts oitheflashlamp. unit on an enlargedscale.

Fig. 5.. is a sectional view of amodification of. a flash lamp unit with. atestlamp arrangement the invention.

Fig. '7. is a. fractional. sectional view of another modification. of. the invention showing, the test lamp. physically separated. from: the flash lamp socket, and

Fig. 8v is a typical. circuit. system for a flash .unit with a test lamp arrangement according to the invention.

Referring now: to. Eigs; 1v to; 5V in detail, these:

figures show a self-contained; flash lampunit 5.; comprisinga. battery, case, generally designated by It, a socket, generally designated by H, reinserted in the socket, then the base of the flash ceiving a flash lamp I 2 and mounted on battery lamp will pivot lever 28 against the action of case [0, and a reflector, generally designated by spring 3| and the bottom terminal of the flash l3, supported by socket I I. The flash lamp unit lamp will engage contact pin I9 and depress the can be connected by a connecting cord in cirsame thereby loading spring 2|. After the lamp houses the source of current such as conventional Fla-sh a p sockets and ejecting m a as prebatteries 15. A cover it fastened to case M by viellslv referred o a e more fully described in any suitable means such as a screw I! serves to the s0-p9nding pp on S N0. fi ed close the battery case and to secure the batteries June 2, 1945, y Morris S ar z and W lli m in their positions therein, Castedello.

Socket I! mounted on-the flat top wall of case The test la a an m nt a ding t the 0 is shown as bein equipped t a lamp ej ctor invention shallnow be described in detail:

a threaded base or a smooth base either with or flash light u b 35 s inserted with its base 36 in with t locking pins, The k t comprises a the wall of shell 18 thereby establishing an elect l 1 11 13 fastened t Case w by any ttrio connection between the base terminal of bulb abl a hi She]; Serves as one of t 35 and socket shell 18. The second or bottom tersockej terminals and is connected for t purminal 37 of the bulb is arranged to be electrically pose in circuit with the batteries The second connected With D I9 constituting the nd terminal of the socket is constituted by a conterminal of the flash a p Socket by means of a tact pm 19 shdable within a metal sleeve 20 contact 11058 38 fastened o pm 19 and extended which in turn is fastened to the top wall of battherefrom This nose may onsist of a short t case 'g A spring 2 Within S1eeve 2g biases piece of any suitable material such as flexible nt t pin 19 t protrude fr m sleeve 2g com metal wire. The relative position of lamp and ventional means such as (3011M (not shown), contact nose 38 are so selected that nose 38 enmust of course be provided to prevent pin (9 35 gages lamp mine] 37 Wh n no flash lamp is from being pressed outof sleeve 20. The lower Inserted in t closed end of sleeve 20 is'connected by a contact most pesitien as can best be'seen n Fi 2- spring 22 or other suitable means with one of As W111 8 apparent, the fi m of amp 5 the terminals of the battenes sleeve 20 1S fur closes a circuit through the terminals of socket t er secured in its position within the shell and 40 en now flash p is ns ed in the upon t tt case by means of an Inserted socket, contact pin 19 is depressed so that conmetal ring 23 and an insulation llng 26 The actnose 38 is disengaged from bulb terminal 37 receiving'end of shell I 8 is provided with a plu- As a result bulb 35 is isconnected while flash hesocket and pin [9 is in its upper rality of deep spaced notches 25 rounded oiT at lamp i o ed through the socket termi their upper ends t0 form tulip shaped portions 5 nals. As soon as the flash lamp is ejected from.

These notches serve to receive the locking pins the socket, bulb 35 is automatically reconnected. 2a of a flash lamp J2 having a smooth base 21 Te permit d pr ssion of pin is relative to lamp in a definite position relative to the socket on m which mi al 37 engages contact nose shell as IS the case when bayonet slots are eman insulation ring 4! is inserted in sleeve I8 played to secure a flash lamp in the socket by s a s ou der 4 against which the means of the locking pins engaging the bayonet ase of lamp 35 ab t when slots.

The lamp ejecting means as shown in Figs. 2 R f rring now to the circuit diagram of F e and 3 comprise, in addition to the spring actuthis diagram shows a circuit connecting the bat-. ated contact pin l9, a two-armed lever 28 pivy 5 and he amps 2 and 35 with a synotauy Supported by a pivot '29 in an axial 61011- chroni zer (indicated by a rectangle). Switch The end of the lever extending into the shell has means of ontact nose 38. i l a sharp edge preferably made of tempered steel, As willbe apparent from the previous descrip- 11 any event made of a material harder than the tion, switch 48, when closed; connects the test;

brass base 27 of flash lamp l2. A spring 3| inbulb 35v in the circuit as long as serted in a deep hol'evof shell section l8 tends I2 is inserted in socket l I to turn lever in a clockwise direction or in cult is continuously ready for tes Reflector I3 is fastened to a shoulder of shell in the circuit by being illuminated, thereby warnby means of three screws 32 and is of course ing the operator against-insertio so shaped and positioned that an inserted flash in socket H. 3 v i lamtp is. in proper position relative to the re- If the operator findsthe flec or.

Letit now be assumed thata flash lamp I2 is 7| will-be automatically disconnected at switch 48,

thereby avoiding an unnecessary? drain on. the battery when the flash lamp:- is: fired. Vtlhenthe: test lamp. is continuously burning,v the. operator: is warned against insertingaflash lamp sinceithea same will be immediately firedwithresulting possible injury to the operator.

Fig. 6 shows. a flash lamp socket without ejector. The illustratedfsocketiscf the types designed. to be screwed into theihead; of. abattery case by means. of a threaded. base orneckill'. Thesocket comprises a shell 51 connected with: one of the terminals of. the batteries the bat tery case (not shown)- and a contact. spring 52 constituting the second terminal of: the socket: Spring 52 is connected by a wire or: rod: to the. bottom terminal; 54: of base- D... Contact. spring 52 and wire 53 are insulatediirom shell. 5| by insulation rings. 55: and 56. Base 36 of the test lamp 35 is against supported by shell 5| so that terminal 31- of the test lamp 35 extends into the shell. Contact spring52. is, soshaped and positioned that it engages bulb. terminal 31 when no flash lamp i2 is inserted inthe socket. As soon as a flash lamp is threaded into the socket, terminal 51 at the bottom of the. flash. lamp base 36 will depress contact: spring. 52- into the position shown in dotted lines. As; a result, test lamp 35 is disconnected while: the flash lamp is now connected to. the socket terminals...

The flash lamp is shown in. Fig. 8 asbeing: of the threaded base type but it. should be understood that a lamp having a smooth base and secured by means of a bayonet lock may also beemployed. Furthermore, the spring contact shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may be employed in the embodiment of Fig. 6 and vice versa.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the test lamp 35 is separated from the flash lamp socket. The test lamp is being shown as supported by a separate socket 60. However, it should be understood that the test lamp can be mounted in any suitable position physically separated from the flash lamp socket. In particular, the test lamp may be mounted in a camera casing and observed through a window in the casing. The embodiment of Fig. '7 will be easily understandable fom the previous description. The only essential difference is that a contact element (ii is inserted in socket shell IS insulated therefrom by an insulation collar 62. Contact element Bl corresponds in its function to terminal 31 of test lamp 35. It is normally engaged by contact nose 38 and disengaged therefrom upon insertion of flash lamp l2. One of the test lamp terminals is connected to contact element BI by a lead 56 and the other to shell l8 by a lead 61.

It will be apparent that switch 48 of Fig. 8 is represented in function by contact elements 38 and BI of Fig. 7.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred eX- amples and embodiments of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A photoflash arrangement including a socket having a shell arranged to receive the base of a photoflash lamp and circuit means for connectmg: the socketeterminalsi to asource ofi current; in combination with contact means arranged to be engagedJby a test lamp and. to: connect the; testl'amp terminals in aby-pass circuit withv said: circuitmeans, and switchmeans includedin the" test lampcircuit and biased. into a position maintaining the test lamp circuit closed, said switch means-being mounted within said shellicand arranged tube engaged by an inserted flashlamp: base and to be movedintov a position disconnect ing' the test lamp. f

2. A socket for photoflash: lamps in combinae tionwit-h contact means arranged to receive' a test-lamp and to connect the test. lampzterminalsz with: the: socket terminals, said contact means being constructed and positioned. to permit the. simultaneous inse tioniof a flash lamp and a test. lamp inthesccket; the contact means including two contact members; one of them movable, the" movable contact member: being constructed and? positioned to be, engaged? by an inserted: flashlamp and to bemoved into: a portion disconnected from the-test lamp uponinsertion of a flashilamp;

3; A. socket: for photoflash lamps in combina-- tion with contactv means supported on the socketand arranged to receive a test'l'amp'and to connectthetest lamp terminals-with the socket ter minals, said contact means being constructed and positioned to permit the simultaneousinsertionof a flashlamp and test lamp in the socket, saidi contact means including two contact members, one of them movable the otherbeing constituted by the socket shell, the movable contact member being constructed and positioned to be engaged by an inserted flash lamp and to be movable into a position disconnected from the test lamp upon insertion of a flash lamp.

4. A socket for photoflash lamps in combination with contact means supported on the socket and arranged to receive a test lamp and to connect the test lamp terminals with the socket terminals, said contact means being constructed and positioned to permit the simultaneous insertion of a flash lamp and test lamp in the socket, said contact means including two contact members, one of them movable the other being constituted by the socket shell, the movable contact member being constructed and positioned to be engaged by an inserted flash lamp and to be movable into a position disconnected from the test lamp upon insertion of a flash lamp, and spring means coacting with the movable contact member for returning the latter into a position engaging the test lamp upon removal of the flash lamp.

5. A socket for photoflash lamps, the terminals of said socket comprising a spring actuated contact member and a socket shell, said shell having an opening therein for supporting a test lamp and connecting one of the terminals of an inserted test lamp with the shell, in combination with a contact element supported by the spring actuated contact member and positioned to normally engage the second terminal of the test lamp and to be disengaged therefrom upon insertion of a flash lamp into the socket causing a depression of the spring actuated contact member, thereby disconnecting the test lamp when and while a flash lamp is inserted.

6. A socket. as described in claim 5, in combination with limit means disposed within the shell and limiting the depth of insertion of a test lamp into the shell.

7. A photoflash arrangement as described in claim 5, wherein the spring actuated contact member comprises a guiding sleeve, 2. contact a flash lamp.

8. A photoflash arrangement as described in claim 5, wherein an insulation member is mountshell and constructed to form a- 10 MORRIS SCHWARTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the actuated contact member and positioned to nor-r 2Q file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS disconnecting the test lamp when and While the 25 Nu b r Nam D t flash lamp is inserted, locking means locking an 1,303,464 Davis May 13, 1919 inserted flash lamp in the shell against the action 2,056,806 Reno Oct. 6, 1936 of the spring actuated contact member, and 2,200,458 Steiner Mar. 14, 1940 means for releasing said locking means, thereby 2,298,403 Mihalyi Oct. 13, 1942 providing for an ejection of the flash lamp and 30 2,329,011 Steiner Sept. 7, 1943 the return of the spring actuated member into its test lamp connecting position. FOREIGN PATENTS 10. A photofiash arrangement including a Number Country Date socket arranged to receive a photoflash lamp and 370,142 Great Britain Apr. 7, 1932 

